Dave Matthews Band Fan Site

The performance last week by Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews at the CMA Awards has been lauded for their ability to play comfortably together and enjoy themselves. The audience clearly enjoyed it too, because it was something different for both of them. In a way, it kind of showcased what’s so good about both of them, letting them bring out their own strengths onstage in their music. Chesney isn’t so used to the rock style and Matthews isn’t so used to the country. So it was a successful combination. Based on interviews since then, Chesney had a good time too, even though “I’m Alive” isn’t a usual part of his music playlist.

One of the longest influences on Dave Matthews over the years has been Neil Young, the famous Canadian rock musician. Well, in January, at the MusiCare Person of the Year gala, Dave Matthews will join the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Wilco to honor him for all that he has given to the music world. Young is one of the best songwriters in this generation, writing many songs that have entered the imaginations of millions over the last 30 years. In some ways, we can see the Young influenced a younger Matthews with the style of music, especially with his ballads. It’s good that they will get to meet and pay tribute to him in this way, because he certainly deserves it!

The Dave Matthews Band will be performing on December 11. That’s not a surprise, since it’s been on the schedule for awhile. But what you might not have known is that he will be performing on AEG Live in 3D. That is to say, it’s going to be a really fun day for everyone. You can not only see DMB from the comfort of your own home, but also see them in 3D. It’s cool that 3D has become in style again, because we haven’t really seen it since the 70s. It’s definitely a fun kind of show that lends itself to 3D, so that you can feel like you’re actually in the place for the fun show. Have you seen any other concerts or movies in 3D recently? It’s definitely different from the kind of 3D you had way back when, but it’s still just as fun.

Are you excited? You should be! I just read that the DMB is going to be on SNL for the first time in forever on November 21st. We haven’t seen them on the show in so long that I think it might have been before the whole Bush-Gore “Odd Couple” routine. What a long time it’s been. The musical guest usually doesn’t have much to do with the actual routines, although I’m sure the band would have a lot of fun if they could be part of a bit. But either way, it will be cool to see and hear them on national TV again. What song do you want to hear them play? Submit your suggestions below. I want to hear what everyone else says before I make my own suggestion.

The news from Dave Matthews is continuing in usual form. There will be a lot of interesting things happening for the Dave Matthews Band this next year. He will be performing with Kenny Chesney at the CMA Awards, which is one of the first times for them to appear together in a major event. Meanwhile, the band is prepping for their European tour next year, which will take them through Germany, England, Ireland and several other places. You might not know it, but he’s very popular over there too, not as much as in the US, but still very popular. Hopefully they are having a good time getting ready and will have some fun music all set for us to hear again!

Our favorite musicians will be working hard to get into the favors of the people over in Europe. As I reported last week, the DMB has added dates in Europe for next year, which will go towards him fulfilling his promise that he would go back to Germany soon. The DMB European Tour. I would love to be there, because you can’t do better than to combine Europe and a Dave Matthews concert. They will be in different cities all across western Europe, including Dublin, Stockholm, and Munich. That’s only a few of them, of course, since the tour’s going to last about a month. This is a World Tour. Or we could call it that for fun. Or if any of you have some good ideas what we should call it, just leave it below!

Dave will be performing with his new buddy Kenny Chesney at the upcoming CMA Awards. We have seen them making some music together over the last little while, including on each other’s recordings. This has been during the last year or so, mainly. It also gives us an exciting new look into the kind of music that Dave seems to be into right now. After all, some of his musical roots go back to country music of some kinds and he’s been practically steeped in it down in Charlottesville over the years. It will be exciting for us to hear them sing together live this year, because their duets are well known as some of their best work! Is a complete combined album in the offing?

With the end of their tour this year, the question naturally arose in interviews with different magazines: what next for the DMB? Dave has told several interviewers that the band will be heading back to Europe in the Spring of 2010. It’s going to be a year that presents them all around the country and to people all over the world. It’s not so well known, but they have a rather strong following in Europe and in other countries too. It will be enjoyable to see them back in the airplanes and playing in all the best locations in Europe once again. There aren’t any particular dates set yet, but it’s going to be great to see them over there once again!

I can’t remember if we talked about the Austin City Limits festival before, but it deserves a mention even though it took place several weeks ago. The DMB was one of the headliners in the festival and people were looking forward to them all day. There was a big storm over the course of the day and many people left earlier than anticipated. This meant that the people who stayed were the dedicated ones who wanted to hear the band the most. And they weren’t disappointed, by most accounts. They played as they always do. There wasn’t much fanfare (no trumpets announcing them or anything) but they did play their best hits. They are like the Dave Matthews Band of old, their style has matured back into the more inventive style that they began with. It was great.

With Tim Reynolds, Dave Matthews will be playing an acoustic weekend in Las Vegas. There are lots of fun reasons to see a show like this, because both of these players made their original music with acoustic instruments and only started using electric guitars. Thus, they are able to play their favorite music in the best way possible. Las Vegas is an interesting venue for them too, because their base isn’t the type of group that I would expect to see in LV all that much. But perhaps I’m wrong. Either way, I love the DMB music on acoustic; I have tried to learn some of their songs on my own guitar, but I’m not nearly that good. I’m only playing it for my own fun anyway. But I could hear them play it themselves if I could make it to Las Vegas this fall!